May 13, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany  11

May 13, 1945

Dearest Mother:

After a very hot day, which I am told is very rare here I will write you a few lines to let you know I am still in circulation.

I have spent the day making rounds with the major on an inspection tour of former German hospitals in the surrounding territory.

Our team is no longer in existence.  The nurse has been returned to headquarters and the other technician is with the other officer.  In other words we are all over.  We arrived here yesterday from our last station much nearer the former front that here.  We came thru headquarters for lunch and then on back over the famous “Reichsautobahn” highway and had a much better chance of seeing some of the country than we had on our way up.  The country is now in its full Spring beauty and I imagine it is at its best.

The highway I speak of is four lanes, two each way with parkway dividing them and now crossroads.  All incoming road are either underpasses or over passes.

The 5^th Aux. Status is as yet as far as I know a deep secret which no one has as yet answered for us.  I am just as happy in my present place as I could be anywhere else, especially at headquarters which I want no part of at present or any time in the future as has been mentioned.  I am the only 5^th Aux enlisted man here and I am left entirely alone, so in the future I am going to get some writing done in my spare time instead of sitting around talking with others as previously done.

The gardens here are certainly very pretty. Found a lilac bush the other day with each individual flower in the spray about as large as a violet and in the same dolor.  That  was the first time I have ever seen like that.  Outside there is a beautiful blood red peony in full bloom which I had a desire to pick but it is much too pretty for that.

I have not received any mail from you for 8 to 10 days, but eventually it will come thru, I am sure.

3 hours later

After a long walk in the park I will finish my letter.  Noticed in the woods a lot of “Jack in the Pulpit” plants and along the path in one place a lot of “Lilly of the Valley”.  The stream is alive with fish after the mosquitoes.

Sgt Ryan is near here somewhere but I know just not where.  Strange to be so far from the others.

Well about all for now and more later when I have the time and more to write off.

As always,

Love

Stanley

PS:

We had a lot of released Air Corps prisoners at our last station and from them I understand they only had two Air Corps enclosures one in Pomerania and the other in Austria where Richard Miner perhaps was.  They are certainly being well take care of and are being flown out.

May 9, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany

May 9, 1945

Dearest Mother:

After a very beautiful day here I will write you a few lines to keep up my correspondence.

Finally heard from Kupfer today and he is near Braunschweig.  Glad to hear from him again.

We are expecting to return to headquarters tomorrow and I will write you a few lines at that time.

We are getting  British version of the peace celebrations, but even they sound good to my ears.

Well to sign off again. Until another time.  This one is not numbered.

All my Love,

Stanley

May 2, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

 

Germany

May 2, 1945

Again this morning I will write you a few lines to let you know how things are on this side of the Atlantic with me.

Have here your letter of April 16, Nov 13 which I received two days ago.  Received a letter from Joe and wrote one to him the day before.  That always happens.  I hear from him at the same time I write him.

I have the package mentioned previously, all packed and ready to mail this afternoon (German) and the jackets.  Muriel can have one of them, Dad another and you one if you wish.  They are quite warm and perhaps of a little souvenir value.  The other or remaining ones you can put away for me.  You can make a scarf for Muriel and yourself if you wish but do not let Muriel have wholesale usage of it. Ryan told his sister he was going to send her enough silk for a handkerchief or two, and he sent the whole parachute, case and all.  Won’t she be surprised when she opens that.

I am enclosing there snapshots, two of scenes on the recent convoy and 3 of myself.  The one of the tower was taken in Reckinghausen and the other one across one of the rivers.  The three of myself are fair.  The one on the generator is the better one.  Will send Muriel a couple of them later when I have more prints.  I really have a surprise for you in some forthcoming portraits, some of which are not bad.  I have had no real goo pictures taken overseas tho.

The cannas annoyed me while at home and you remember me digging out quite a few.  The cacti needed repotting long ago.  A grape arbor over the driveway between house and garage would be rather nice, with an added driveway gate at corner of the house.  There is already part of the grape vine near there.  What are you going to do about the water in the garage?  I always have ideas for yards etc tho that may be impractical.

Richard and Myrtle owe me a letter but it does not make much difference as I am not overly fond of hearing from them anyway.  Too many others of more interest.

I am not surprised to hear of gophers again appearing.  Is the rear lot again being used for gardening?  Blairs never did take care of their yard.  It will be a good thing when she gets out of work again and stays at home I guess.

Received also your 5 air-mail stamps.

I expect soon to again be recalled to headquarters as have done nothing and no one else is either.  Very little use for us I guess anywhere.  Some teams have already been recalled.  And I have the thought of going back.  Well we may of course get a chance for a pass and get the chance to see something again.  I have really seen none of the places very well.  That all started when we arrived at New York.  It has been a rush ever since.  I went aboard the boat on an advance party, the only enlisted men among about fifty officers.  My job as Sergeant Major required that I be aboard over a day early.  We left camp by police escort, sirens and all.  I went thru the tunnel and over the skyline bridge and the chauffeur carried my baggage.  I was quite in style.  Nothing less than a stateroom alone for me after a complaint of poor quarters.  I quit a long time ago going thru a lot of misery from people in the army.  If you do not look out for yourself no one else will.  The channel crossing was on one of Belgium’s pre-war largest boats. And a regular hag pen it was too.  Well enough of this for now and on to other subjects.

Enclosed you will find some German stamps which were sent me by Olson in headquarters.  Quite a few of them knowing I collect them, save them for me from time to time.  71 of them are enclosed.

Received a letter from Muriel the other day also.  She is getting much better about writing for some reason.

The weather has been cold and damp and a jacket is still required for warmth.

We now have a French surgical team here.  Something new.

Thanks a lot and until I write again, all my Love.

Your son,

Stanley

February 28, 1945 - Germany

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

4

Germany

February 28, 1945

Dearest Mother:

After quite a while of no writing and during which time I have forgotten the number of the letter, this one is either 3 or 4.

As you see by the heading I have again changed locations.  This time I have come alone and am now on a new team.  The new team chief for me is the same Major Talmadge I worked for at Dodd Field some time ago.  Upon joining the new team I found Sgt Ryan here and a couple others I know quite well but they have gone on ahead today and again I am more or less alone.

As you see by the newspapers, things have been happening fast over here so I can tell you nothing more at this time.

Very sorry to hear of Mrs. Miner having another sickness and as you say she certainly has trouble.

I am very much interested in the new records you speak of and they certainly must be quite nice.

You ask about myself drinking coffee.  I only drink it once in a while and usually more often when they have nothing else to drink.  The Army coffee is usually very poor and I can never drink too much of that.

Our Headquarters has again moved and are located in a very nice place again.  They really have the luck.

I tried to get a hold of some very beautiful Delft wall plates a while back but was unable to do so as my time was limited and I needed it for sleep as I need it now, have been busy for 24 hours now and am going to bed very shortly as my eyes are going to fail to stay open very soon.

Enclosed you will find some pictures which Kupfer and myself took some time back.  They are in a way better.  Therefore at least something different.

Well this will be all for now and more will follow in another letter soon.

Take care of yourself and do not worry.

All my Love

Your son

Stanley

10 November 1944

Sgt. Stanley W Safford 39539976

5^th Auxiliary Surgical Group

APO 339

c/o Post Master

New York  New York

10 November 1944

Dearest Mother:

Have before me her on the table you three letters of the 11, 14 and 17 of October which I received upon my arrival at headquarters where I am at present, and am quite pleased to be here for a short time since the weather was none too good where we were in the field.

I saw the first snowfall of the season the other day and indeed it made a beautiful change in the country.  Everything was all white and the falling flakes were quite large, about the size of a quarter.

Was quite surprised to hear in your V-mail of the 11^th that my mail has not been going thru. I am going to send this regular mail and see if there is any change in the delivery of this.

The reason for us being in Headquarters is that our hospital has finished in our last location and until assigned another we will be here in the warm building for a change.  We had quite a time of it the other evening with our tents.  About four in the morning a strong gale came up and I mean a strong one, of several miles an hour.  It blew our tent down and did we have a mess.  It was raining so the water came in and soaked several of the others beds etc.  The tent blew down on me so therefore saved me and things from the water. Anyway we got up and fixed it and returned to bed for the balance of our sleep.

Enjoyed very much your enclosures of jokes and stories in your letter of the 14 Oct.  I really enjoyed them and always look forward to them.

Very sorry to hear of Dad not being able to go hunting.  Hope he had better luck on second trip.

Regarding the films.  I can get them developed here but for better service I will send the negatives home to you for prints.  I have some here now which I will soon send to you.  Rolls of undeveloped films would not go thru at all.  I am allowed to take pictures almost any time when I have my camera, which I quite often leave at home, and then is of course when I want it the most.  Pictures of war damage will not pass the censor at all and they are not fond of you taking them and will prevent it if possible.  I have therefore taken none, and besides they do not interest me to any great extent.

Received a letter from Dorothy Kinsfather telling me of her college etc. She is taking Spanish and Chinese, can you imagine such a combination?  Also a letter from Mrs. Matson. I understand Dorothy is very interested in marriage, so I can not quite connect her pursuing languages and wanting to get married at the same time.  Quite a person.  Mrs. Matsons’ letter was quite interesting as always and she tells me they have sent a couple packages.  I wish you would discourage so much attention my way from so many people.  I feel obligated to them.

I am quite pleased to hear of the popcorn etc being on the way.  I surely appreciate it.  You can charge my request things to me.  You can forget the powdered milk since the chocolate can be made with water.  The tea I am quite sure will be satisfactory.  I am able to get all the necessary sugar.

Jay Elmont[1] in his letter received yesterday tells of being out to dinner so I guess he now owes you a dinner again.  That is getting to be a vicious circle, isn’t it?

In regards to your questions about our teams. We have had quite a set back recently. Col MacIntyre is having to return to Headquarters and we are going to get another surgeon.  We are all quite disappointed at the Colonel having to go.  Otherwise our team was a big success.  We done a lot of surgery and the Colonel has done some beautiful work.

We were not at Calais since that was practically British.  Some of our teams are at all the prominent places along the front.

Thanks a lot for the second copy of the poem.  I have the other copy here and will take your advice and carry this one in my wallet.

Anita Ringley mentioned Yvonne’s noninterest in “North Eastham House”.  Do not blame her.  Have you ever heard of Grandfather Matthews will as yet?

Well all for now, and I will start writing more often and different ways.  The envelope is German.

All my Love,

Stanley

NOTE from the transcriber:

ARMY NINEH = probably Army Ninth…  That is where he was in actuality so that fits.

---

[1] Found a passport picture f Jay Elmont on Ancestry.com and the 1930 US census lists his occupation as “Artist - Music and Radio Field”; and the directories have him listed as an act director, living at 421 W 8^th Street, Los Angeles in 1917- as a decorator,  h2139 Branden in 1918 – Manager Gillette Safety Razor Co, r815 O’Farrell in 1920 and 1921 h2139 Branden

The California Death Index shows he died on 12 Dec 1946, in Los Angeles.(he was b 1 Jan 1883 in Ohio).Passport lists a David Elmont as his father (b NY)